Ravel Morrison remanded in custody over assault

The 21-year-old is accused of attacking a young woman outside a bar in Manchester city centre in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The former Manchester United player is also accused of assaulting the same woman and another 39-year-old woman hours later.

Morrison, from Urmston, Manchester, was arrested on Wednesday and has been charged with two counts of common assault.

Morrison, 21, charged with two counts of common assault, closed his eyes and puffed his cheeks out after being refused bail at Manchester Magistrates' Court today.

Morrison, who spoke only to confirm his name and age, is alleged to have assaulted ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor, 19, and her mother Parveen Mansoor, 39, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He was arrested on Wednesday and appeared in court on Thursday. District Judge James Prowse refused a bail application made by Morrison's solicitor Ros Emsley-Smith.

The defendant, who did not enter a plea, was remanded into custody until August 7.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "At about 3.20am on Sunday, July 27 2014, police were called to an address on Alexandra Road, Peel Green, Salford, following reports a 19-year-old woman and a 39-year-old woman had been assaulted.

"Officers attended and established the young woman had also been assaulted outside a bar in Manchester city centre earlier that evening and a 21-year-old man was subsequently arrested at a later date.

"Ravel Morrison, of Urmston, is charged with two common assaults."

Morrison was widely tipped to become a Manchester United regular as one of the club's best home-grown prospects in their youth teams.

But the midfielder was sold by former boss Sir Alex Ferguson to West Ham for £650,000 in January 2012.

He has since been loaned out by West Ham to Birmingham and, more recently, QPR.

It appeared Hammers manager Sam Allardyce was eager to move the midfielder on.

Criticism of those plans by co-chairman David Sullivan appeared to give Morrison a second chance at Upton Park.

"Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans but we do - as a board - see him as part of our plans," Sullivan said.

West Ham declined to comment when contacted by Press Association Sport.